The second round of Community Input Sessions are now underway. “How Shall We Grow? – Creating a Shared Vision for Central Florida” is mid-way through the fifteen-month process to bring together local, regional and state agencies in a partnership to design our collective future.
In just six months, 3,000 residents and community leaders have participated in a process to Create a Shared Vision for Central Florida. That’s a great start – but with a population of over 3 million in the seven-county region, we still have a long way to go.
As Central Florida faces the opportunities and challenges associated with the projected doubling of our population from 3.5 million citizens today to 7.2 million in 2050, our region has been given the unique opportunity to be the “first in Florida” to create a shared vision that will answer the question, “How Shall We Grow?”
The Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department of Transportation, the Central Florida MPO Alliance, East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and myregion.org have combined their professional talents and resources to take this message to the people of our region.
During the first round of community input meetings held just a few months ago, 2,197 citizens and community leaders provided their comments and suggestions on regional growth and, more specifically, on growth in their own counties. Their input will be reflected in growth scenarios that will again be taken to the people in a second round of input sessions throughout September. These sessions will allow attendees to make “real-time” choices about Central Florida’s future.
A Brevard County session, with nearly 50 people in attendance, was held at the Sandrift Community Center in Titusville on Thursday, August 31, 2006. For those unable to attend, a second chance to particpate is slated for Wednesday, September 20, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne.
Orange County also held the first of two sessions on Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at the Asociación Borinqueña (Puerto Rican Association). The next seesion will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2006, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at The Hope Church in Orlando.
Join us for an upcoming session and invite a friend or colleague to come along. If you were unable to participate initially, it’s not too late! You can select the date and location of a session in a county most convenient for you. Register online at www.myregion.org. Questions may be directed to Pam Clancy via email at pam.clancy@orlando.org of call 407.835.2443.
Don’t miss this opportunity to weigh in on Central Florida’s future! To review past meeting summaries, presentations, audio and visual graphics, visit our blog: www.howshallwegrow.org.
myregion.org - A Regional Development Program - is an organization of citizens and leaders from public, private and institutional sectors who have launched a program to prepare the Central Florida Region to compete more effectively in the 21st century while enhancing the quality of life of its citizenry.
